Christopher Nkunku’s agent has reportedly offered Barcelona the chance to pursue a cut-price deal for the Chelsea forward.
The £52m recruit has failed to secure regular minutes under new manager Enzo Maresca, who has favoured Nicolas Jackson and kept the Frenchman as part of his second-string side used in the Conference League. Nkunku has struck five goals in as many games in the third-tier European competition.
According to SPORT, this lack of minutes has left Nkunku frustrated and keen to leave Chelsea, either on loan in January or on a permanent deal in the summer.
Nkunku’s agent, Pini Zahavi, has been tasked with finding a new club for the 27-year-old and has made contact with Barcelona. Zahavi has a strong bond with the Catalan outfit and has made it clear that Nkunku would be prepared to lower his salary to seal a move to Barcelona.
The offer comes at a time in which Barcelona officials have begun to question current striker Robert Lewandowski. The Pole has 16 goals in 18 La Liga games but just two of those have come in his last seven appearances.
Lewandowski’s drop in form has left Barcelona wary of the fact that they currently have no natural alternative to a player who will turn 37 at the start of next season and could feasibly begin a steep physical decline in the near future.
Sporting director Deco wants to sign a new striker to compete with Lewandowski, but no action is expected to be made in the January transfer window.
Barcelona are monitoring a number of potential forwards, with Nkunku’s name now on a shortlist which also includes Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, AC Milan’s Rafael Leao and Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
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